This has some spoilers, none of which I think would disrupt the enjoyment of the movie. Nonetheless, you’ve been warned!
I truly hope you saw the film, and if not, that you will. Needless to say the first Marvel female-lead blockbuster superhero movie is a big deal. Especially to the females! (However the world’s biggest fan is a man).
Origin stories can be challenging, particularly when tackling the introduction of Carol Danvers. Wonder Woman by comparison, has a clear origin story that we can easily boil down for a summary. But for Carol, her story started as Ms. Marvel in the 60s, and took detours into other character types – Warbird & Binary to name a couple – that we will likely not see on the big screen. (Unless X-Men can somehow get the rights to borrow her.)
Anna Bowden and Ryan Fleck made interesting choices in terms of how they told Carol‘s story. We are just as clueless as she is when she’s trying to decipher between her human and Kree reality. Carol does not know who she is or exactly why she is fighting so hard for the Kree. And of course neither does the audience. It can be very frustrating to wait out a mystery like we did with Captain Marvel.
BUT she’s worth the wait…
Mostly what makes her amazing to me, and this showed in the movie, is her self-confidence and independence. That spirit is definitely portrayed, but it takes a while for her to really get there legitimately. Much of the first half of the movie felt like another superficial character. Of course how can you have substance when you don’t know who you are, or can’t learn from your past? Without knowing her past, she’s just not her.
I have to admit I had a difficult time seeing Carol go so long WITHOUT being who she really is to the MAX. That’s probably the reason why most people prefer the second half of the movie. However, the first half has a lot of work to do in terms of explaining where Carol’s been, what she’s doing, and how she will fit in the larger cinematic universe.
What I didn’t love:
1. She was never called “Captain Marvel” or bestowed that title. I’m guessing they’re going to do this in Avengers Endgame. In the comic books, it’s Captain America who suggests she take up the name Captain Marvel. We’ll see how that plays out.
2. What I am calling the fuzzy mystery methodology…. (Movie mystery plot’s meandering).
3. Not enough Coulsen screen time. Whatever scene Clark Gregg is in, is made better by his presence.
4. Not enough Carol sass. Yes she’s a smart ass in the movie, but I want more from Brie Larson in terms of acting. I feel like Carol is more overtly funny in the comics. Although, it’s a fine line, and I am no Oscar-winning actress.
What I loved:
1. Goose the flerken cat. How could you not?
2. Everything about Nick Fury. Samuel Jackson shines in this movie.
3. Despite my criticism, who can’t love Brie Larson? She embodies Carol on and off the screen.
4. Monica and Maria Rambeau – I expect we will see more from young Monica in the future MCU. They give Carol her humanity. Not to mention Maria’s badass flying!
5. The shape shifting skrull Ben Mendelssohn gave a great nuanced performance.
6. Carol’s uncompromising strength. The movie did show the nature of Carol‘s character; how she operates, how she thinks, what she loves to do, and how no one can stop her when she makes up her mind to do something. She always gets up after getting knocked down.
The thing about starting to love a character is that they have to know themselves. Carol really isn’t herself until the last moments of this movie. I’m thinking about my comic books when she’s flying along side Iron Man making Star Wars references. That’s the Captain Marvel I fell in love with, and hope to see more of.
This isn’t a rave review, but I LOVED the movie. I’ve already seen it four times. I felt represented on screen, and I felt inspired by the characters. I’m not overwhelmed with joy, because the first part of the movie felt like it could’ve been told in a more straightforward way.
Bottom Line:
The movie as a whole is ambitious, interesting and creative, visually stunning, with moments of humor, and lots of heart with a leader who’s a bit of a rebel. And when isn’t rebelling fun?
Now I’m just holding out hope we can see her Statue of Liberty house in the future movies!
Credit: Marvel Comics
